Trump slams N. Korea, urges countries to cut trade ties

By Gaurav SharmaBeijing, Nov 9 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Thursday urged all countries to stop arming, financing and trading with the “murderous” North Korean nuclear regime.

Addressing a joint press conference with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall, Trump, on a three-day visit, said both the leaders had agreed not to replicate failed approaches to resolving the North Korean crisis.

China is the North’s ally and its biggest trading partner. Washington believes that Beijing has influence over Pyongyang because of the close ties. Mao Zedong’s son died fighting in Korea against the US in the 1950s.

“Today President Xi, we discussed our mutual commitment to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea,” Trump said.

“We agreed not to replicate failed approaches of the past… We agreed on the need to fully implement all the Security Council resolutions on North Korea and to increase economic pressure until North Korea abandons its reckless and dangerous path.

“All responsible nations must join together to stop arming and financing and even trading with the murderous North Korean regime,” he said.

China says it will do whatever possible to rein in North within the regulated framework of the UN but is not in favour of unilateral sanctions against the reclusive country.

“As long as we stand together with others, if necessary against those who threaten our civilization, that threat will never happen. It doesn’t even have a chance,” Trump said.

“As I said in my address in Seoul, the entire civilized world must unite to confront the North Korean menace and the entire world is watching us right now.

“Together we have enough power to finally liberate this region and the world from this serious nuclear menace. But it will require a collective effort, collective strength and collective devotion to winning the peace,” Trump added.

Tensions between Washington and Pyongyang have escalated after North Korea’s test firing of missiles and conducting its most powerful hydrogen test in September.